Apparatus and method for using a telephone while navigating

ABSTRACT

A navigation device comprises a map database ( 12 ) for storing map data, and a telephone number database ( 13 ) for storing a plurality of locations and their telephone numbers, latitudes, and longitudes. The navigation device further includes an input unit ( 1 ) for allowing a user to select a desired location from among the plurality of locations stored in the telephone number database ( 13 ) and set the desired location to his or her destination, and to set a predetermined distance, and an automatically dialing unit ( 15 ) for automatically dialing a telephone number corresponding to the destination, which is stored in the telephone number database, when the distance from a current position to the destination is less than or equal to the predetermined distance while the navigation device guides the user to the destination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a navigation device for offeringvarious services using telephone numbers.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Referring now to FIG. 13, there is illustrated a block diagramshowing the structure of a prior art navigation device as disclosed infor example Japanese Patent Application Laying Open (KOKAI) No.9-113288. In the figure, reference numeral 108 denotes a display andcontrol unit comprised of a liquid crystal display 108A and a controlswitch panel 108B, 109 denotes the body of the navigation device, 132denotes an antenna of a GPS receiver, 133 denotes a telephone connectionunit, 120 denotes a speaker, 134 denotes a microphone, 135 denotes amobile telephone, and 136 denotes an antenna of the mobile telephone135.

[0005] Next, a description will be made as to the operation of the priorart navigation device. When a user selects a point on an map displayedon the screen of the liquid crystal display 108A and then selects afunction of retrieving a telephone number, the prior art navigationdevice displays location names and person's names, which are registeredin the navigation device, in the order of increasing distance from theselected point on the far-right portion of the screen. When the userfurther selects one of the place names and person's names on-screen, thenavigation device displays the on-screen place name or person's name inreverse video and the corresponding point on the on-screen map inreverse video to emphasize that the location or person has beenselected, retrieves the telephone number of the selected location orperson from stored telephone number data, displays the telephone numberon the far-right portion of the wide screen, and then automaticallydials the telephone number. Thus, when a user selects an arbitrary pointon a map on-screen, the prior art navigation device makes it possible todisplay one or more locations and persons associated with the selectedpoint, allow the user to select one of them, and automatically dial thetelephone number of the selected location or person.

[0006] A problem with such a prior art navigation device which is soconstructed as mentioned above is that when the user wants to dial adesired telephone number through the navigation device, the user needsto manually select a location name or a person's name associated withthe desired telephone number. Another problem is that the user has todetermine for himself or herself whether the vehicle on which thenavigation device is mounted reaches near the destination, and then dialthe destination's telephone number if necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is made to overcome the above problems. Itis therefore an object of the present invention to provide a navigationdevice capable of dialing a desired telephone number without having toforce users to manipulate the navigation device.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide anavigation device capable of displaying a desired telephone number onthe screen of a display unit without having to force users to manipulatethe navigation device.

[0009] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided anavigation device capable of dialing a mobile telephone connected to thenavigation device, the device comprising: a map database for storing mapdata; a telephone number database for storing a plurality of locationsand their telephone numbers, latitudes, and longitudes; a unit forallowing a user to select a desired location from among the plurality oflocations stored in the telephone number database and set the desiredlocation to his or her destination, and to set a predetermined distance;and an automatically dialing unit for automatically dialing a telephonenumber corresponding to the destination, which is stored in thetelephone number database, when the distance from a current position tothe destination is less than or equal to the predetermined distancewhile the navigation device guides the user to the destination accordingto the map database and the telephone number database.

[0010] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a navigation device capable of dialing amobile telephone connected to the navigation device, the devicecomprising: a map database for storing map data; a telephone numberdatabase for storing a plurality of locations and their telephonenumbers, latitudes, and longitudes; a unit for allowing a user to selecta desired location from among the plurality of locations stored in thetelephone number database and set the desired location to his or herdestination; and an automatically dialing unit for automatically dialinga telephone number corresponding to the destination, which is stored inthe telephone number database, when the user enters an area whose areacode agrees with the one of the destination while the navigation deviceguides the user to the destination according to the map data base andthe telephone number database.

[0011] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the automatically dialing unit can inform somebody on theother end of the connection of the remaining distance from the currentposition to the destination and the time required for the user to reachthe destination, which are calculated according to the map database andthe telephone number database.

[0012] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a navigation device comprising: a mapdatabase for storing map data; a telephone number database for storing aplurality of locations and their telephone numbers, latitudes, andlongitudes; a unit for allowing a user to select a desired location fromamong the plurality of locations stored in the telephone number databaseand set the desired location to his or her destination; a unit forlooking up the area code of a current position using the map databaseand the telephone number database; a unit for retrieving one or moretelephone numbers each including the looked up area code from thetelephone number database if they are registered in the telephone numberdatabase; and a unit for displaying the retrieved one or more telephonenumbers and for displaying one or more marks indicating one or morelocations respectively associated with the retrieved one or moretelephone numbers on a map on-screen.

[0013] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a navigation device comprising: a mapdatabase for storing map data; a telephone number database for storing aplurality of locations and their telephone numbers, latitudes, andlongitudes; a display unit for displaying a map on a screen thereofaccording to the map database; a scrolling unit for scrolling around theon-screen map; and a unit for, when the display unit displays a map onthe screen thereof or every time the scrolling unit scrolls around theon-screen map, retrieving one or more telephone numbers respectivelyassociated with one or more locations within the on-screen map from thetelephone number database if they are registered in the telephone numberdatabase, and for displaying the retrieved one or more telephone numberson the screen of the displaying unit.

[0014] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a navigation device capable of gettingincoming calls through a mobile telephone connected to the navigationdevice, the device comprising: a map database for storing map data; atelephone number database for storing a plurality of locations and theirtelephone numbers, latitudes, and longitudes; and a unit for, when themobile telephone gets an incoming call, finding out a location wheresomebody on the other end of the connection stays or lives unlesssomebody's telephone number is stored in the telephone number database,for displaying a map including the location where somebody on the otherend of the connection stays or lives according to the map database andthe telephone number database, and for displaying a mark indicating thelocation where somebody on the other end of the connection stays orlives on the on-screen map.

[0015] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a navigation device capable of dialing amobile telephone connected to the navigation device, the devicecomprising: a map database for storing map data; a telephone numberdatabase for storing a plurality of locations and their telephonenumbers, latitudes, and longitudes; and a unit for, when dialing atelephone number through the mobile telephone, finding out a locationwhere somebody on the other end of the connection stays or lives unlessthe dialed or destination telephone number is stored in the telephonenumber database, for displaying a map including the location wheresomebody on the other end of the connection stays or lives according tothe map database and the telephone number database, and for displaying amark indicating the location where somebody on the other end of theconnection stays or lives on the on-screen map.

[0016] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments ofthe invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of anavigation device according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a connection between thenavigation device according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention and a mobile telephone;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional structure ofprimary constituents of the navigation device as shown in FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing the operation of the navigationdevice according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the distance between acurrent position of a vehicle on which the navigation device accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted and adestination;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process ofcalculating the distance between a current position of a vehicle onwhich the navigation device according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention is mounted and a destination;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing the operation of a navigationdevice according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a certain area whose areacode agrees with the area code of a destination;

[0025]FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing the operation of a navigationdevice according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a screen display producedby the navigation device according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0027]FIG. 11(a) is a view showing an example of a screen displayproduced by a navigation device according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0028]FIG. 11(b) is a view showing a screen display produced after themap as shown in FIG. 11(a) is scrolled around;

[0029]FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing the operation of a navigationdevice according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and

[0030]FIG. 13 is block diagram showing the structure of a prior artnavigation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] First Embodiment

[0032] Referring next to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a block diagramshowing the structure of a navigation device according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1denotes an input unit, such as a keyboard or a pointing device, thatallows a user to enter information such as his or her desireddestination, 2 denotes a storage unit, such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM,for storing information, such as a map database, needed for thenavigation device to search for a route and guide the user to his or herdestination, 3 denotes a display unit, such as a CRT or a liquid crystaldisplay panel, for displaying a route on the screen to guide the user tohis or her destination, 4 denotes an arithmetic and logic unit forcontrolling the input unit 1, the storage unit 2, and the display unit 3to perform a route searching operation and a guiding operation, 5denotes a mobile telephone connection unit for connecting the navigationdevice 9 with a mobile telephone, 6 denotes a gyro sensor, 7 denotes aspeed sensor, and 8 denotes a GPS receiver.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation device 9, which is soconstructed, can be connected to a mobile telephone 11 by way of forexample a serial cable 10.

[0034] Referring next to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a block diagramshowing the functional structure of the prime constituents of thenavigation device as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the storageunit 2 is provided with a map database 12 and a telephone numberdatabase 13. The map database 12 stores map data needed for searchingfor a route and for guiding the user to his or her destination. Thetelephone number database 13 stores information about a plurality oflocations, i.e. a plurality of location names, and their telephonenumbers, latitudes and longitudes.

[0035] The arithmetic and logic unit 4 is provided with a mobiletelephone connection determination section 14, an automatically dialingsection 15, a current position determination section 16, a routesearching section 17, a remaining distance calculation section 18, and adestination area determination section 19. The mobile telephoneconnection determination section 14 can determine whether or not themobile telephone 11 is connected to the navigation device 9. Theautomatically dialing section 15 can dial a destination telephone numberautomatically through the mobile telephone 11 if a condition issatisfied. The current position determination section 16 can determinethe current position of the vehicle on which the navigation device ismounted from GPS data or the like. The route searching section 17 cansearch for an optimum route to the destination. The remaining distancecalculation section 18 can calculate the remaining distance from thecurrent position to the destination. The destination area determinationsection 19 can determine if the remaining distance from the currentposition to the destination is less than or equal to a predetermineddistance.

[0036] Next, a description will be made as to the operation of thenavigation device according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIG. 4 showing a flow diagram showing theoperation of the navigation device. The arithmetic and logic unit 4lists a plurality of location names registered in the telephone numberdatabase 13 on the screen of the display unit 3, for example, and thenallows a user to select one desired location name from the liston-screen with the input unit 1 and set the desired location to his orher destination so as to guide the user to the destination, in stepST401. The arithmetic and logic unit 4, in step ST402, also allows theuser to set an automatic-dialing distance with the input unit 1.Assuming that Y (km) denotes the distance between the destination andthe current position of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 5, the arithmeticand logic unit 4 allows the automatically dialing section 15 to dial thedestination telephone number automatically when Y (km) is less than orequal to a predetermined distance X (km), which is hereafter referred toas an automatic-dialing distance in this specification. The distancebetween the destination and the current position of the vehicle can becalculated in the following manner. First, links connecting betweennodes and extending from the current position to the destination areformed by searching for some routes, and a route having some of thoselinks whose total length is the shortest is selected and provided as thesearching result, as shown in FIG. 6. The distance between thedestination and the current position of the vehicle, i.e. the remainingdistance is then calculated by summing the summation of the lengths ofthe links included in the selected route (A+B+C), and the distance fromthe current position to the next node (D). The route searching section17 of the navigation device searches for the optimum route to thedestination from information from the map database 12 for storing thelengths of links and node positions, the speed sensor 7, the gyro sensor6, and the GPS receiver 8. The remaining distance calculation section 18then calculates the remaining distance along the route to thedestination.

[0037] After both the destination and the automatic-dialing distance Xare set and the route searching is completed, the navigation device 9starts to guide the user to the destination in step ST403. Thedestination area determination section 19 then, in step ST404,determines if the distance from the current position to the destinationis less than or equal to the automatic-dialing distance X (km). If thedestination area determination section 19 determines that the distancefrom the current position to the destination is less than or equal tothe automatic-dialing distance X (km), the automatically dialing section15, in step ST405, automatically dials the destination telephone number,which is registered in the telephone number database 13.

[0038] As previously mentioned, the navigation device according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention can automatically dial adestination telephone number if the remaining distance from the currentposition to the destination is less than or equal to a predetermineddistance X (km). Accordingly, the first embodiment can provide anadvantage of being able to timely inform a person who the user will meetthat the user will reach the destination in a short time. Furthermore,since the user or driver does not need to be aware that he or she willhave to dial the destination telephone number while he or she isdriving, the navigation device of the first embodiment can enable usersto drive carefully.

[0039] Second Embodiment

[0040] A navigation device according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention is provided with a destination area determinationsection 19 that can determine whether the vehicle on which thenavigation device is mounted enters an area whose area code agrees withthe area code of the destination. The other structure of the navigationdevice of the second embodiment is the same as that of the navigationdevice according to the aforementioned first embodiment as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. Therefore, the description of the other structure will beomitted hereafter.

[0041] Next, a description will be made as to the operation of thenavigation device according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIG. 7 showing a flow diagram showing theoperation of the navigation device. An arithmetic and logic unit 4 listsa plurality of location names registered in a telephone number database13 on the screen of a display unit 3, for example, and then allows auser to select one desired location name from the list on-screen with aninput unit 1 and set the desired location to his or her destination soas to guide the user to the destination, in step ST701. The navigationdevice then, in step ST702, searches for an optimum route to thedestination, and, after that, starts to guide the user to thedestination.

[0042] While the navigation device guides the user to the destination,the destination area determination section 19, in step ST703, determineswhether the vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted enters anarea whose area code agrees with the one of the destination, as shown inFIG. 8. If the destination area determination section 19 determines thatthe vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted enters an areawhose area code agrees with the one of the destination, an automaticallydialing section 15, in step ST704, automatically dials the telephonenumber of the destination, which is registered in a telephone numberdatabase 13.

[0043] As previously mentioned, the navigation device according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention can automatically dial adestination telephone number, which is registered in the telephonenumber database 13, when the vehicle on which the navigation device ismounted enters an area whose area code agrees with the one of thedestination. Accordingly, the second embodiment can provide an advantageof being able to timely inform a person who the user will meet that theuser will reach the destination in a short time. Furthermore, since theuser or driver does not need to be aware that he or she will have todial the destination telephone number while he or she is driving, thenavigation device of the second embodiment can enable the user to drivecarefully. In addition, as compared with the first embodiment mentionedabove, the second embodiment can offer another advantage of eliminatingthe setting of an automatic-dialing distance.

[0044] In accordance with a variant of the exemplary first and secondembodiments shown, there is provided a navigation device that can informa person who the user will meet of the remaining distance and theestimated time required for the vehicle to reach the destination using arecorded voice such as an artificial (or computer-generated) voice afterit automatically dials a destination telephone number. In this case, thedriver does not need to talk to the person who the user will meetthrough the mobile telephone. Accordingly, the driver can drive morecarefully.

[0045] Third Embodiment

[0046] A navigation device according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention is provided with an arithmetic and logic unit 4 thatcan find out (or look up) the area code of a location where the vehicleon which the navigation device is mounted is moving and then enable adisplay unit 3 to display telephone numbers including the area code,which are registered in a telephone number database 13, on the screenthereof. The other structure of the navigation device of the thirdembodiment is the same as that of the navigation device according to theaforementioned first embodiment as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, thedescription of the other structure will be omitted hereafter.

[0047] Next, a description will be made as to the operation of thenavigation device according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIG. 9 showing a flow diagram showing theoperation of the navigation device. The arithmetic and logic unit 4, instep ST901, looks up the area code of a location where the vehicle onwhich the navigation device is mounted is moving from the currentposition of the vehicle determined by a current position determinationsection 16. The arithmetic and logic unit 4 then, in step ST902,determines if the area code differs from the previous area code that waspreviously found out by the arithmetic and logic unit 4. If thearithmetic and logic unit 4 determines that the current area codediffers from the previous area code which was previously found out bythe arithmetic and logic unit 4, it, in step ST903, retrieves one ormore telephone numbers including the area code currently found out fromthe telephone number database 13 if they are registered in the telephonenumber database 13 and then displays those telephone numbers beside amap displayed on the screen of the display unit 3 and marks indicatingthe positions associated with the telephone numbers, as shown in FIG.10. For example, each of the marks can have a graphical form indicatinga mobile telephone, as shown in FIG. 10. When the user further selectsone of the telephone numbers listed beside the on-screen map, unless thelocation corresponding to the selected telephone number is shown on themap, the arithmetic and logic unit 4 scrolls around the map so that amap including the corresponding location is displayed.

[0048] As previously mentioned, the navigation device according to thethird embodiment of the present invention can display telephone numbersincluding the currently found out area code of a location where thevehicle is moving on the screen of the display unit 3 and then allow theuser to select one telephone number to display a map on which thelocation associated with the selected telephone number is shown. Inaddition, the user can dial one of the on-screen telephone numbers incase of emergency by referring to the on-screen telephone number list.

[0049] Fourth Embodiment

[0050] A navigation device according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention is provided with an arithmetic and logic unit 4 thatcan retrieve telephone numbers associated with an on-screen map from atelephone number database 13 and then enable a display unit 3 to displaymarks indicating the locations associated with the retrieved telephonenumbers on the on-screen map and the telephone numbers beside theon-screen map. The other structure of the navigation device of thefourth embodiment is the same as that of the navigation device accordingto the aforementioned first embodiment as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore,the description of the other structure will be omitted hereafter.

[0051] Next, a description will be made as to the operation of thenavigation device according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 11(a), the arithmetic and logic unit 4retrieves one or more telephone numbers associated with their respectivelocations shown in an on-screen map from the telephone number database13 if they are registered in the telephone number database 13, and thenenables the display unit 3 to display marks indicating the locationsassociated with the retrieved telephone numbers on the on-screen map andthe telephone numbers beside the on-screen map. For example, each of themarks can have a graphical form indicating a mobile telephone, as shownin FIG. 11(a). After that, every time the arithmetic and logic unit 4scrolls around the map displayed on the display unit 3 in response to aninput operation done by a user with an input unit 1, the arithmetic andlogic unit 4 retrieves one or more telephone numbers associated withtheir respective locations shown in an on-screen map displayed afterscrolled around from the telephone number database 13 if they areregistered in the telephone number database 13, and then enables thedisplay unit 3 to display marks indicating the locations associated withthe retrieved telephone numbers on the on-screen map and the telephonenumbers beside the on-screen map, as shown in FIG. 11(b).

[0052] As previously mentioned, every time a user scrolls around anon-screen map, the navigation device according to the fourth embodimentof the present invention retrieves one or more telephone numbersassociated with an on-screen map displayed after scrolled around fromthe telephone number database 13 if they are registered in the telephonenumber database 13, and then displays marks indicating the locationsassociated with the retrieved telephone numbers on the map and thetelephone numbers on the screen of the display unit. Accordingly, thefourth embodiment of the present invention offers an advantage of beingable to automatically display telephone numbers about which the user iscurious most.

[0053] Fifth Embodiment

[0054] A navigation device according to a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention is provided with an arithmetic and logic unit 4 thatwhen a mobile telephone connected to the navigation device gets anincoming call, can enable a display unit 3 to display a map includingthe location associated with the source telephone number of the party onthe other end of the connection on the screen thereof and a markindicating the location of somebody on the other end of the connectionon the on-screen map. The other structure of the navigation device ofthe fifth embodiment is the same as that of the navigation deviceaccording to the aforementioned first embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.Therefore, the description of the other structure will be omittedhereafter.

[0055] Next, a description will be made as to the operation of thenavigation device according to the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIG. 12 showing a flow diagram showing theoperation of the navigation device. The arithmetic and logic unit 4, instep ST1201, determines if a mobile telephone 11 connected to thenavigation device 9 of the fifth embodiment gets an incoming call now.If the mobile telephone 11 receives an incoming call now, the arithmeticand logic unit 4, in step ST1202, finds out the source telephone numberof the party on the other end of the connection. The arithmetic andlogic unit 4 then, in step ST1203, determines whether or not the sourcetelephone number of the party on the other end of the connection isregistered in a telephone number database 13. If the source telephonenumber of the party on the other end of the connection is registered inthe telephone number database 13, the arithmetic and logic unit 4, instep ST1204, enables the display unit 3 to display a map including thelocation associated with the source telephone number on the screenthereof and a mark indicating the location of somebody on the other endof the phone on the on-screen map according to corresponding data storedin the telephone number database 13. On the other hand, unless thesource telephone number of the party on the other end of the connectionis registered in the telephone number database 13, the arithmetic andlogic unit 4, in step ST1205, allows the display unit 3 to display a mapincluding the location associated with the source telephone number onthe screen thereof and a mark indicating the location of somebody on theother end of the phone on the on-screen map according to the sourcetelephone number, e.g. an area code included in the source telephonenumber.

[0056] As previously mentioned, every time a mobile telephone connectedto the navigation device according to the fifth embodiment of thepresent invention gets an incoming call, the navigation device candisplay a mark indicating the location of somebody on the other end ofthe phone on an on-screen map. Accordingly, the fifth embodiment of thepresent invention can provide an advantage of being able to make theuser directly recognize the location of somebody on the other end of theconnection.

[0057] Sixth Embodiment

[0058] A navigation device according to a sixth embodiment of thepresent invention is provided with an arithmetic and logic unit 4 that,when either the navigation device or a user dials a mobile telephoneconnected to the navigation device, can find out the destinationtelephone number which the user is dialing, and enable a display unit 3to display a map including the location associated with the destinationtelephone number of the party on the other end of the connection on thescreen thereof and a mark indicating the location of somebody on theother end of the phone on the on-screen map. The other structure of thenavigation device of the sixth embodiment is the same as that of thenavigation device according to the aforementioned first embodiment asshown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the description of the other structure willbe omitted hereafter.

[0059] Next, a description will be made as to the operation of thenavigation device according to the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention. When either the navigation device 9 of the sixth embodimentor a user dials a mobile telephone 11 connected to the navigationdevice, the arithmetic and logic unit 4 finds out the destinationtelephone number of the party on the other end of the connection. Thearithmetic and logic unit 4 then determines whether or not thedestination telephone number of the party on the other end of theconnection is registered in a telephone number database 13. If thedestination telephone number of the party on the other end of theconnection is registered in the telephone number database 13, thearithmetic and logic unit 4 enables the display unit 3 to display a mapincluding the location associated with the destination telephone numberon the screen thereof and a mark indicating the location of somebody onthe other end of the phone on the on-screen map according tocorresponding data stored in the telephone number database 13. On theother hand, unless the destination telephone number of the party on theother end of the connection is registered in the telephone numberdatabase 13, the arithmetic and logic unit 4 enables the display unit 3to display a map including the location associated with the destinationtelephone number on the screen thereof and a mark indicating thelocation of somebody on the other end of the phone on the on-screen mapaccording to the destination telephone number, e.g. an area codeincluded in the destination telephone number.

[0060] As previously mentioned, every time either the navigation deviceaccording to the sixth embodiment of the present invention or a userdials a mobile telephone connected to the navigation device, thenavigation device can display a mark indicating the location of somebodyon the other end of the connection on an on-screen map. Accordingly, thesixth embodiment of the present invention can provide an advantage ofbeing able to make the user directly recognize the location of somebodyon the other end of the phone.

[0061] Many widely different embodiments of the present invention may beconstructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. It should be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the specific embodiments described in the specification,except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A navigation device capable of dialing a mobiletelephone connected to said navigation device, said device comprising: amap database for storing map data; a telephone number database forstoring a plurality of locations and their telephone numbers, latitudes,and longitudes; means for allowing a user to select a desired locationfrom among said plurality of locations stored in said telephone numberdatabase and set the desired location to his or her destination, and toset a predetermined distance; and automatically dialing means forautomatically dialing a telephone number corresponding to saiddestination, which is stored in said telephone number database, when thedistance from a current position to said destination is less than orequal to said predetermined distance while said navigation device guidesthe user to said destination according to said map database and saidtelephone number database.
 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said automatically dialing means informs somebody on the otherend of the connection of the remaining distance from the currentposition to said destination and the time required for the user to reachsaid destination, which are calculated according to said map databaseand said telephone number database.
 3. A navigation device capable ofdialing a mobile telephone connected to said navigation device, saiddevice comprising: a map database for storing map data; a telephonenumber database for storing a plurality of locations and their telephonenumbers, latitudes, and longitudes; means for allowing a user to selecta desired location from among said plurality of locations stored in saidtelephone number database and set said desired location to his or herdestination; and automatically dialing means for automatically dialing atelephone number corresponding to said destination, which is stored insaid telephone number database, when the user enters an area whose areacode agrees with the one of said destination while said navigationdevice guides the user to said destination according to said map database and said telephone number database.
 4. The navigation deviceaccording to claim 3 , wherein said automatically dialing means informssomebody on the other end of the connection of the remaining distancefrom the current position to said destination and the time required forthe user to reach said destination, which are calculated according tosaid map database and said telephone number database.
 5. A navigationdevice comprising: a map database for storing map data; a telephonenumber database for storing a plurality of locations and their telephonenumbers, latitudes, and longitudes; means for allowing a user to selecta desired location from among said plurality of locations stored in saidtelephone number database and set said desired location to his or herdestination; means for looking up the area code of a current positionusing said map database and said telephone number database; means forretrieving one or more telephone numbers each including said looked uparea code from said telephone number database if they are registered insaid telephone number database; and means for displaying said retrievedone or more telephone numbers and for displaying one or more marksindicating one or more locations respectively associated with saidretrieved one or more telephone numbers on a map on-screen.